Dual infrared (ir) sights for firearms

ABSTRACT

An apparatus comprising two infrared (IR) lasers. One IR laser has an operating center wavelength of λ1, while the other IR laser has an operating center wavelength of λ2, which is different form λ1. In other words, λ2≠λ1. The apparatus further comprises a mount for mechanically mounting the first IR laser and the second IR laser to a firearm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/145,148, filed Feb. 3, 2021, entitled “DUAL INFRARED (IR) SIGHTS FOR FIREARMS,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to infrared (IR) light and, more particularly, to dual infrared sights for firearms.

Description of Related Art

In search and rescue operations, it is important to quickly locate individuals before they are exposed to harsh elements or hostile forces. Consequently, there are ongoing efforts to improve visibility of individuals that are lost or in need of rescuing.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for assisting in search and rescue. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises two infrared (IR) lasers. One IR laser has an operating center wavelength (λ1), while the other IR laser has an operating center wavelength (λ2) that is different form λ1. In other words, λ2≠λ1. The apparatus further comprises a mount for mechanically mounting the first IR laser and the second IR laser to a firearm.

Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a sight that is mounted to a firearm.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the sight of FIG. 1 in greater detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

By the third day of a combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) mission of a downed pilot or other isolated person (IP), batteries have been exhausted in the IP's radio and overt signals have been removed due to the nature of the operating environment. As such, survival comes down to training and covert signaling. One approach includes IPs being equipped with technology that takes advantage of parts of the electromagnetic spectrum outside of the human visual range, such as, for example, within the infrared (IR) spectrum.

Although conventional dual-beam sights for firearms have both a visible laser beam and an IR laser beam, the IR laser beam is specifically designed as target designators (for use with precision-guided munitions) or direct aiming at targets with the aid of night-vision devices. Therefore, conventional dual-beam IR laser beams operate at wavelengths that are not optimized for search-and-rescue (SAR) operations.

To address this shortcoming of conventional dual-beam systems, this disclosure teaches an apparatus comprising two (2) separate IR lasers (rather than a visible laser and an IR laser). In other words, the disclosed dual-beam apparatus emits two (2) separate IR laser beams, with one IR laser having an operating center wavelength (λ1) that is different than an operating center wavelength (λ2) of the other IR laser. In other words, λ2≠λ1. Unlike conventional dual-beam sights, the disclosed IR wavelengths are suitable for CSAR operations (e.g., in the near-infrared (NIR) range or the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range or mid-wave infrared (MWIR)). For some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a mount for mechanically mounting the first IR laser and the second IR laser to a firearm. By providing dual-IR laser beams with wavelengths that are more-suitable for CSAR operations, the disclosed embodiments allow for greater effectiveness in covertly locating IPs.

Having provided a broad technical solution to a technical problem, reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a dual-IR sight 110 for assisting in CSAR operations, while FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the dual-IR sight 110 in greater detail. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a pistol-mounted dual-IR sight 110, which is mounted to an underside of a firearm 120. As shown in FIG. 2, the dual-IR sight 110 comprises a first laser 210 that emits a first laser beam 215 at a first center wavelength (λ1). The dual-IR sight 110 further comprises a second laser 220 that emits a second laser beam 225 at a second center wavelength (λ2). The two center wavelengths, λ1 and λ2, are different, meaning, λ1≠λ2. Insofar as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 show the dual-IR sight 110 as being mounted to a pistol 120, the apparatus comprises a mount 230 that allows the dual-IR sight 110 to be a bolt on accessory to a standard issue pistol 120 (or a standard issue rifle). For some embodiments, the standard issue pistol 120 (or rifle) comprises a Picatinny rail (or other known type of rail) that facilitates quick installation and removal of the dual-IR sight 110.

For some embodiments, either the first laser 210 or the second laser 220 (or both) emits a wavelength that is detectable by hyperspectral sensors or light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors from overhead, but not detectable by peer or near-peer standard night vision devices. As such, for some embodiments, the first laser 210 operates in a near infrared (NIR) wavelength range, while the second laser 220 operates in a short-wave infrared (SWIR) or mid-wave infrared (MWIR)) wavelength range (or vice versa). Specifically, the NIR wavelength range facilitates CSAR when rescue personnel are on the ground, while SWIR or MWIR facilitate CSAR from overhead sensors, such as drones, satellites, or other air-based searches (e.g., search aircraft). It should also be appreciated that different wavelengths can be selected to facilitate detection by other advanced optical sensors or systems that are trained to identify various spectra of light that is invisible to the unaided human eye.

To allow for better detection, some embodiments of either the first laser 210 or the second laser 220 are configured for laser pulse modulation and, preferably, for a modulation scheme that comprises combinations of customizable pulses and customizable intervals for conveying information to search aircraft or ground search teams. For other embodiments, both the first laser 210 and the second laser 220, in combination, configured for frequency hopping, thereby providing multiple detectable signatures. Preferably, the customizable pulses or frequency hopping are the result of covert, IP-initiated, non-naturally occurring, and direct signaling schemes that are targeted to CSAR personnel that are looking for specific modulation characteristics. Because the CSAR personnel are aware of these types of non-naturally occurring signatures, but others are not aware of these types of signatures, there is a better chance of an IP being seen by CSAR personnel but not by hostile forces.

It should be noted that a portable dual-IR sight 110 is not merely a straightforward modification of a standard dual-beam sight (visible and IR). This is because optical components that are necessary to transmit at different IR wavelengths are not the same as optical components that transmit at visible wavelengths. Furthermore, the IR-related components are frequently more complex and have different energy requirements than visible wavelength devices. Consequently, modifying optical components to accommodate IR wavelengths will result in a change in the principles of operation. Furthermore, modifying visible-light lasers to IR lasers will render inoperable the visible-light lasers because the visible-light lasers can no longer be used without additional detection devices.

Any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions in a process, and alternative implementations are included within the scope of the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure in which the process may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.

Although exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the disclosure as described may be made. For example, although NIR wavelength, SWIR wavelength, and MWIR wavelength ranges are provided as example embodiments, it should be appreciated that the IR wavelength range can be selected from multiple different ranges. For example, for other embodiments, λ1 or λ2 have operating center wavelengths that range from approximately seven-hundred nanometers (˜700 nm) to approximately one millimeter (˜1 mm) with reference to the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. However, in other contexts, such as for commonly used sub-division schemes, a range of approximately fifteen micrometers (˜15 μm) to ˜1 mm (encompassing a far IR (FIR) range) or ˜8 μm to ˜15 μm (encompassing long-wave IR (LWIR or IR-C DIN)) can be used. Alternatively, the center operating wavelengths of λ1 or λ2 can be selected from any of the following: ˜3 μm to ˜8 μm for mid-wavelength IR (MWIR, MidIR, Intermediate Infrared (IIR), or IR-C DIN), ˜1.4 μm to ˜3 μm for short-wave IR (SWIR or IR-B DIN), and ˜750 nm to ˜1.4 μm for near IR (NIR or IR-A DIN). In yet other contexts, such as the wavelength division scheme of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), the IR wavelength ranges are divided as: ˜700 nm to ˜1400 nm for IR-A; ˜1400 nm to ˜3000 nm for IR-B; and ˜3 μm to ˜1 mm for IR-C. For the ISO 20473 scheme, the wavelength ranges are defined differently for NIR (˜780 nm to ˜3 μm); MIR (˜3 μm to ˜50 μm); and FIR (˜50 μm to ˜1 mm). In yet another context, such as the division scheme used in astronomy, the IR wavelength ranges are divided as: ˜700 nm to ˜5 μm for NIR; ˜5 μm to ˜40 μm for MIR; and ˜25 μm to ˜350 μm for FIR. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a first infrared (IR) laser for operating at a first center wavelength (λ1); a second IR laser for operating at a second center wavelength (λ2), wherein λ2≠λ1; and a mount for mechanically mounting the first IR laser and the second IR laser to a firearm.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises: a slot that affixes to a rail of a rail-equipped pistol.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rail is a Picatinny rail.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ1 is in a near infrared (NIR) wavelength range, and wherein λ2 is in a short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavelength range.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ2 is in a near infrared (NIR) wavelength range, and wherein λ1 is in a short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavelength range.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ1 is detectable by sensors, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of: advanced optical sensors hyperspectral sensors; and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ1 is undetectable by standard night-vision devices.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ1 is detectable by advanced optical sensors.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ1 is detectable by systems trained to identify various spectra of light that is invisible to unaided human eyes.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ2 is detectable by sensors, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of: advanced optical sensors; hyperspectral sensors; and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ2 is detectable by systems trained to identify various spectra of light that is invisible to unaided human eyes.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ2 is undetectable by standard night-vision devices.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first laser is configured for laser pulse modulation.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the laser pulse modulation comprises combinations of customizable pulses and customizable intervals for conveying information.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first laser and the second laser are, in combination, configured for frequency hopping.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the frequency hopping provides multiple detectable signatures.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount is a bolt on accessory to a standard issued pistol.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount is a bolt on accessory to a standard issued rifle.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ1 is in a wavelength range selected from the group consisting of: 700 nanometers (nm)≤λ2≤1 millimeter (mm); 3 micrometers (μm)≤λ2≤8 μm; 750 nm≤λ2≤1400 nm; 700 nm≤λ2≤1400 nm; 1400 nm≤λ2≤3000 nm; 780 nm≤λ2≤3000 nm; 3 μm≤λ2≤50 μm; 700 nm≤λ2≤5 μm; and 5 μm≤λ2≤40 μm.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein λ2 is in a wavelength range selected from the group consisting of: 700 nanometers (nm)≤λ2≤1 millimeter (mm); 3 micrometers (μm)≤λ2≤8 μm; 750 nm≤λ2≤1400 nm; 700 nm≤λ2≤1400 nm; 1400 nm≤λ2≤3000 nm; 780 nm≤λ2≤3000 nm; 3 μm≤λ2≤50 μm; 700 nm≤λ2≤5 μm; and 5 μm≤λ2≤40 μm. 